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(Aconite) has a bitter taste and cold nature, with slight toxicity. Another claim states it is hot in nature and non-toxic, which is incorrect. It enters the Kidney meridian. It treats sudden onset of wind-pathogen stroke, deviation of the mouth and eyes; cures chronic wind-damp bi-syndrome, soreness and pain in the waist and feet; and governs heat lurking causing irritability and fullness. However, it scatters the body's true Qi (Vital Energy), making it particularly unsuitable for consumption or use. Since this is so, why is it included in this compilation? Presumably because herbs targeting the Kidney are especially scarce among medicinal substances, and diseases where the Kidney is invaded by wind-pathogen and dampness are particularly difficult to treat. Thus, it is tentatively retained to treat wind-damp diseases within the Kidney.

It is unknown what cause led ancients to universally praise this herb, and modern people also tend to use it readily. Some even praised it saying, "After taking it a hundred times, hearing and vision become sharp; after a thousand times, beard and hair turn black," claiming it can chase wind and expel dampness. These are merely casual remarks; such statements are truly killers' words. While residing in Fujian, a nobleman suddenly suffered from stroke. I palpated his pulse and found no floating quality at all; it was extremely fine and nearly imperceptible. I said, "This is a syndrome of extreme deficiency of True Qi about to collapse." I urgently prescribed large doses of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen), Prepared Aconite Root (Fuzi), Prepared Rehmanniae Radix (Shudihuang), Cornus Officinalis Fruit (Shanzhuyu), Ophiopogon Tuber (Maidong), and Schisandra Berry (Wuweizi). After one dose, his mental clarity returned; after two doses, his voice emerged. I blamed him for his past indulgence in sexual activity. The nobleman replied, "I have abstained from sexual activity for several years, yet still feared my health was lacking, so I took tonics daily, resulting in stroke. That you did not treat the wind at all, but instead used large doses of herbs to greatly tonify Qi and Blood, and fill and benefit essence and marrow to save my life, is something I do not understand." I asked what tonic he had used. He said, "A guest advised me to take Aconite pills, which I have taken for a year." I said, "That explains it. Aconite depletes the body's True Qi; how can it be taken regularly?" He said, "Indeed. I took it, but saw no effect for a long time, and secretly doubted it. Now, hearing your teaching, I am suddenly enlightened. I called my son to discard all remaining medicine in the bottle. Strictly following your prescription, I made a complete recovery. Alas! This nobleman fortunately met me and avoided death. This is a case I witnessed personally, knowing through treatment that Aconite is a killer. And those similar cases I failed to hear of beforehand—are they not numerous?

Nevertheless, Aconite itself does not kill; it is the improper use of it that often leads to death. So, how should it be used properly? In cases of stroke, one must ask if the patient has historically had water-damp eczema on the waist. If there is water-damp eczema, one must further ask about the dryness or moisture of the scrotum. If there is wind in the Kidney, the person will inevitably suffer from sore and heavy lower back pain; if there is dampness in the Kidney, the person will inevitably suffer from scrotal ulceration and sores. Even when using Aconite, it must be co-administered in large doses with Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen) and Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome (Baizhu). How could it then mistakenly cause death? Regarding syndromes of wind-damp bi-syndrome with soreness and pain in the waist and feet, Coix Seed (Yiren), Poria (Fuling), Astragalus Root (Huangqi), and Euryale Seed (Qianshi) must be added for joint administration to ensure absolute safety.

Someone might ask: "Aconite is esteemed by the world, yet you abandon it to such an extent?" Aconite has indeed had its merits; my concern is that people mistakenly recognize it as a tonic and use it frequently. Wind-damp invading the Kidney is particularly difficult to treat. Retaining Aconite without deleting it is precisely to reserve its subtle applications. Otherwise, Stephania Tetrandra Root (Fangji) can also expel wind-damp within the Kidney. Keeping Fangji is acceptable, but why also retrieve Aconite? This is precisely because Aconite's efficacy surpasses that of Fangji, although its depletion of essence and blood is less severe than that of Fangji. Therefore, we keep Fangji and still keep Aconite. Generally speaking, Fangji treating wind-damp within the Kidney may only be used once to achieve a surprise effect, and should not be used again to cause harm. As for Aconite, it is permissible to use it once; regarding repeated use, it simply must not be used for a long duration.